TALKS between embattled bus company Remant Alton and their employees, including drivers, ended in deadlock yesterday.

TALKS between embattled bus company Remant Alton and their employees, including drivers, ended in deadlock yesterday.

The drivers had called for a meeting with management through their Transport Workers Union of South Africa (Tawusa) after media reports that the company was to shut down its service in and around Durban.

eThekwini mayor Obed Mlaba has said Remant Alton would cease operations at the end of the month because it was "financiallyunsustainable".

Tawusa spokesperson Mlondi Memela said yesterday that more than 1000 workers were in the dark about their future.

"We have scheduled another meeting with Remant for the end of the week. We hope the meeting will come with a decision on what will happen to hundreds of our members," he said.

The shutting down of Remant Alton means that thousands of bus commuters will have to pay more to travel by taxi.

Remant Alton, a BEE company, was awarded the contract to operate the city's buses in 2003.

Soon after taking over, complaints by commuters about poor service followed. These were followed by a number of strikes by bus drivers who were supported by commuters.

The Durban Transport Consultative Committee, representing thousands of commuters in and around the city, has threatened to take to the streets and bring the city to a standstill if the municipality did not take back the service.